Sharing the Crust

“An extended meditation on the challenges and joys of Christian discipleship, and on the mystery of self-surrender, Sharing the Crust does more than tell the story of a remarkable man and the community he guided in West Baltimore. Part memoir, part biography, part history, part prayer, this marvelous book provides a glimpse of what it is like to bring hope to the poor, and for making possible what is deemed impossible by many in the world. Truly inspiring and unforgettable.”


—Carlos Eire, professor of history and religious studies, Yale University





“If you sit down and really read Sharing the Crust, you will experience God’s fullness. All of us in the story of faith that Mark tells were so different, but God brought us together, and we were of one accord. I’m thankful that I’m still living here in Sandtown, and I’m believing that God is going to do even more work here. For anyone embarking on grassroots ministry, read from those of us who went through it!”


—Nina Anderson, leader in Sandtown Neighborhood of Baltimore





“Can pain, loss, and hope co-exist? Injustice, deprivation, and celebration? How does individual calling, communal vocation, the search for justice, and commitment to place relate? Mark Gornik’s evocative ode to radical friendship and community building ‘on the journey towards new creation’ offers embodied and generative responses to such urgent questions. I could not put it down!”


—Ruth Padilla De Borst, associate professor of world Christianity, Western Theological Seminary





“Mark Gornik has written a remarkable story that responds to Peter’s invitation to ‘give an account’ of hope. This story is a witness to another order, a fresh possibility, an alternative, a true and good radiance. In it, you will encounter and be changed by the faith and courage, the friendship and community that made it all possible. Read Sharing the Crust and see how God is always in the process of ‘doing a new thing,’ a ‘new song,’ in the wildernesses and deserts of our time.”


—Fr. Emmanuel Katongole, co-founder and president, Bethany Land Institute





“Sharing the Crust is an inspirational story interwoven in a theology of the reign of God that is in our midst. Reading it is to discover that the kingdom is within us and that all things are truly possible when we come to know each other and truly care. As you read, grow, and be transformed into the real people of God.”


—Elizabeth Conde-Frazier, author of Atando Cabos





“Despite the cynicism about both church and state these days, Sharing the Crust testifies and demonstrates that things can change, hope can be rekindled, and faith can be restored with love, justice, and peacemaking. In this testament you will witness a Sacrament in Sandtown, the name of the place where this creative community was formed. This is not just a good read, but a good example that we all need.”


—Jim Wallis, chair of faith and justice, Georgetown University